IMPHAL, December 17: The state government will be giving main priorities to the improvement of jails and police training centres in the state under the 13th Finance Commission, said state Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam today.
The Dy CM was replying to media queries on the difficulties faced by the Jiribam Jail authorities in transferring the prisoners to the Imphal East police.
He was speaking to media persons on the sidelines of an Advent Christmas and Thanksgiving programme at the Compassion Children’s Home, Taloulong, Senapati today.
The questioned from the media person had highlighted that the Jiribam Jail authorities had to transfer their prisoners by plane as travelling by road is out of question and that the authorities had to shell out the travel fares from their own pockets.
Meanwhile, the Dy CM who also holds the Home portfolio also replied to media queries on the government policy regarding the rehabilitation of surrendered militants.
He said that at present owing to the large number of surrenderees, the state has to ask the army and the Assam Rifles to provide accommodation to some of the surrenderees.
The state has however a policy under central guideline, he said.
The state government at present is not so financially strong to build accommodation for all of them, however all efforts to make the surrenderees comfortable are being taken up, he said.
On being asked about the claims that security forces have been producing already surrendered cadres as recently arrested UG cadres, the Dy CM said the government has a verification process of all surenderees however he will instruct the authorities concern to be more careful in the future.
He said he has also discussed the issue with the IGAR (S) and has also instructed both the jail and AR authorities to be more careful in the future.
He continued there is also a Joint Monitoring Group to look into all issues concerning the SoO signatories.
He further appealed to the people to cooperate with the state authorities.
Meanwhile, the Advent Christmas and Thanksgiving function was also attended by RNBA Centre Church pastor Reverend L Timothy Phaomei as president and ex MLA Haokip Kipgen as guest of honour.
Dy CM Gaikham during the function had also spoke on the celebration of ‘Advent Christmas’ and donated Rs 50000 to the children Home.
Speaking at the function, the Compassion Children’s Home vice president Paolal Singsit said the orphanage has children from all different communities of the state and added that the home was opened with the motto “to serve the suffering humanity of ethnic conflicts, HIV/AIDS, poverty”.
He also submitted an appeal to the Dy CM regarding the construction of a proper hostel for the home.